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Opinion: Guest Opinions

Andrew Shoemaker: Let's fix the camping problem in the civic area

By Andrew Shoemaker

Posted:
08/27/2016 07:50:50 PM MDT

A homeless man takes a nap under a tree near the intersection of Canyon Boulevard and 9th Street last winter. (Jeremy Papasso / Staff Photographer)

This summer, notwithstanding a camping ban on the books, the creek path and civic area have transformed into a free-for-all camping zone, resulting in a health and safety hazard unwelcoming to others. How did we get here, and where do we go?

In April of this year, City Council met with the municipal judge to understand whether Boulder's approach of writing camping tickets was simply a means to jail the homeless, as some homeless activists have suggested. We learned that our progressive municipal court was not jailing individuals for camping, but rather was educating those who were ticketed, connecting them with social services, and requiring community service. The only people receiving jail time were those that failed to appear in court after a citation. Nonetheless, many expressed concern that even such a limited use of jail was too harsh, and that additional warnings were necessary.

While council's sentiment was well-intentioned, it was naïve to assume that those individuals who thumb their nose at the justice system will somehow respond to a simple warning. Nonetheless, the city altered its policy and focused on warnings rather than citations. Those warnings aren't working, and Boulder's public spaces have become de-facto campgrounds. As a result, our public areas are soiled with trash and human waste. Much of this occurs within close proximity to Boulder High School and Boulder Creek.

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We should address this problem now, before next summer, and before our renovation of the civic area — a renovation costing millions that will be for naught if our current policy is not changed. What are potential solutions? First, we could go back to our prior enforcement policy. But that policy also was flawed. It was a "don't ask don't tell" approach, allowing camping as long as it was discreet. Unsightly and unsanitary waste still lined the creek banks.

Given that we close the homeless shelter for emergency services during the summer, the result is not surprising. There will always be people either down on their luck or choosing to live a transient lifestyle. Many will pass through Boulder. They will find a place to sleep, and traditionally they have done so along the creek. Some cities stop camping through strict enforcement, while providing no alternative place to sleep (other than jail). However, absent a sleeping option/location for the truly homeless (which are not always easy to distinguish from travelers), Boulder does not have the political will or culture to carry out such a strict policy. Such a policy may also face legal challenges.

A practical solution is to provide a summer alternative somewhere outside of the civic area (there are already winter emergency alternatives at the homeless shelter and Boulder Outreach for Homeless Overflow). There are legitimate concerns about location and type of shelter (tent or fixed structure) and whether such an alternative will attract travelers. While a more permanent location and the ultimate type of shelter would be the subject of significant study, the city owns several industrial properties with access to public transportation, one of which could serve as a temporary camping facility next summer. The issue of attractiveness to travelers can be mitigated in part through management (similar to management of our winter shelter). A campground or facility with security and rules can be designed to provide a safe and humane alternative to illegal camping that does not become an inviting and make-shift hostel for travelers. Some users will complain that they don't like rules. Sorry, that's part of the point.

With a summer shelter in place, there is no excuse to sleep along the creek, and there should be no legal or humanitarian excuse for the city not to enforce the camping ban in our public spaces. Notably, Eugene, Ore., provides a year-round solution in certain locations managed by service providers, and it in turn jails those that choose to camp illegally along their river.

Finally, while the city's impact on the county jail is often overstated, the jail is not keeping pace with the county's needs. This subject deserves its own editorial. However, it is clear that an improved and expanded facility with modern, minimum-security options will facilitate a program to clean up our civic area.

Without a plan in place to address the use of our public space, I question the merits of spending addition funds on civic area renovation. There will be a council study session on homelessness on Aug. 30. Please email council with your thoughts.

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